Rein: "Myth" That Epic Has Abandoned PC Platform

July 2, 2010 1:30 PM

Like it or not, there's a large group of "hardcore" gamers who associate Epic Games with the Gears of War franchise first, rather than the company's Unreal Engine or Unreal shooter franchises. The association comes in part to the booming popularity of the Xbox 360-exclusive franchise, set to enter its third installment in April 2011, and the lackluster commercial reception of Unreal Tournament III.

Popular perceptions aside, Epic Games VP Mark Rein is adamant in his company's drive to grow the PC market. Speaking with Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Rein clarified his company's current focus:

We've released an update to the Unreal Development Kit every single month, with huge amounts of changes and improvements which are obviously going into our engine and making them available to customers, we've tested them on PC.
If you look at all the UDK games they're PC only at this point, and we will eventually see them on other devices. But I think that's a myth that we've abandoned the PC, it's just not true. I mean, Bulletstorm is coming out on three platforms; we've just been in this situation where our biggest franchise has been published by a console-holder, and was a very console designed-IP.

Reacting to inquires that Epic's software lineup would remain "much more console focused," Rein was quick to downplay the "Gears" association with everything the company does. "There's a tendency to think that because we wanna do one thing really, really well and not a hundred things really poorly or just okay that we're less committed."

Epic's next title, the People Can Fly-developed Bulletstorm, is scheduled for release on the PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 in February 2011.

Xav de Matos

Xav de Matos was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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ShXIII

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July 2, 2010 1:35 PM

Then prove us wrong epic start releasing some titles for the PC, Gears2 anyone?
- Schnapple
  
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  July 2, 2010 1:41 PM
  
  Not to defend him, but isn't that Microsoft's call?
  - XAVdeMATOS
    
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    July 2, 2010 1:44 PM
    
    As the publisher, it would be Microsoft's decision to bring Gears of War 2 or 3 to PC.
    - jtthe2nd
      
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      July 2, 2010 4:27 PM
      
      It was obviously meant to be played on a couch in front of a big hdtv.
      - ShXIII
        
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        July 2, 2010 7:57 PM
        
        Sarcasm? I loved the first one on PC and i must have been one of the lucky ones because it ran great for me, and I'm sorry any kind of game that requires aiming in my opinion does NOT play better on a console because using the analog sticks to aim just plain sucks.
        
        HisDivineOrder
        
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        July 2, 2010 8:45 PM
        
        He's quoting Microsoft's stated reasons for not publishing Alan Wake on PC, despite it originally being the first platform the game was announced for. Also, its probably what they'd argue for Gears of War 2 or Halo 3.
        
        ShXIII
        
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        July 3, 2010 6:54 AM
        
        Thats what I thought
        
        crabsncancer
        
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        July 3, 2010 2:46 PM
        
        GoW ran great for me too even on a Pentium 4 HT 3.0gHz with an ATI 1950 Radeon. I don't know where all these complaints of GoW being bad and buggy on PC come from. I played through it 3 times. But I refuse to buy an XBOX to play GoW2 and 3.
        
        ShXIII
        
         reply
        July 3, 2010 4:04 PM
        
        same here, and we are screwed out of the series because of no PC port, nothing like starting a story and not being able to finish it, thats my favorite